March 5, 2023
10:30 a.m.
Lent
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Sally Purvis, Liturgist
Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.
Rumi 1207-1273
PRELUDE
The Meadow Ireland
*OPENING READING Rabindranath Tagore 1861-1941
The winds of grace are blowing, but it is you who must raise your sails.
*HYMN
Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness 286
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Let us prepare ourselves for the word of God as it comes to us in the reading of Holy Scripture. Our hearts and minds are open.
Genesis 12:1-5a and John 3:1-17
For the word of God in scripture, for the word of God among us, for the word of God within us. Thanks be to God!
* SONG
In love you summon John L. Bell
SERMON
Short Cuts? Rev. Kim P. Wells
UNISON READING
Anselm c.1033-1109
Jesus, like a mother, you gather us to you. With a mother’s gentleness, you weep for our sins, cry for our arrogance, lead us out of hatred, deliver us from judging, comfort our sorrow, heal our wounds, and feed us pure milk. You are our mother, Lord. You gather us under your wings. You died for us and give us life. Restore our souls. Remake us in your peace.
ANTHEM
JLM (Jesus Loves Me) Phillips
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal is to:
- Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives & in our world.
- Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people.
- Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.
MORNING OFFERING – COMMUNION OFFERING
Morning offerings may be brought forward and placed in the plates on the altar. You are invited to write your prayer requests on the sheets provided in the bulletin and bring them forward and place them in the basket on the altar. If you would like assistance, please turn to someone seated near you.
Offertory
Andante Cantabile Mozart
* Time of Dedication
Eric James
There is never an act of faith without risk.
* PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION Take, O take me as I am Iona Community
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
Communion Prayer – Savior’s Prayer
Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Blessing the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Meal
Unison Prayer of Thanksgiving John Hammon
Child of Bethlehem —
house of bread;
Man of Jerusalem —
city of peace;
you have loved us
without condition;
in our greatness and in our misery,
in our folly and in our virtue;
may your hand be always upon us
and may your heart be within us
so that we too
may become bread and peace
for one another. Amen.
* HYMN
I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry 351
* BENEDICTION
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (please form a circle) Rosemary Crow
Weave, weave, weave us together;
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love.
Weave us together, together in love.
*POSTLUDE
Agincourt Hymn Dunstable
ANNOUNCEMENTS
This is a Communion Sunday. Please know that everyone is welcome to participate in communion. Young people are invited to participate at the discretion of the adult(s) who have brought them. The Communion Offering will be received. This offering is used to help people in the church and the community with basic needs such as rent and utility assistance, bus passes, prescriptions, etc. There has been heavy need for these funds. Please consider how you can help the community through this offering.
This morning communion will be offered by intinction. This involves coming forward, taking a piece of bread and dipping it in the cup and eating it. There are also individual cups available, and the prepackaged communion servings. Please do what feels most comfortable for you.
UCC General Minister and President a former member of LUCC
This past week, the search committee for the next General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ announced the candidate to be elected at the General Synod this summer. It is the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson. Many years ago, Karen lived in St. Pete and was a member of LUCC. Congratulations to Karen and to the UCC!
New College Demonstration Many thanks to Bill Parsons, Dyanne Edds, Emily Bell, and Kim Wells for being part of the demonstration at New College on Tuesday. New College was founded in 1960 by the United Church of Christ.
Circle of Concern
Samantha Wassmer and Family – The Family and Loved Ones of Beulah Coughenour – Tony and Jim Larson – Erik Johnson – George and Jane Diven and Family – Katherine Conover – Sherry Santana – Ann Quinn is under Hospice care – Maggie Brizendine – Janet Hall
Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff
Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-867-7961 lakewooducc@gmail.com lakewooducc.org
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
A Just Peace Church
An Open and Affirming Church
A Creation Justice Church
Lakewood United Church of Christ 